The birth date, parents' names, and information concerning the siblings of Robert McMordie are unknown at this time. It is also uncertain whether he was born in Ireland or Pennsylvania. The earliest reference to him was on 24 May 1753, when the Synod of Philadelphia ordered Robert to supply pulpits in Virginia & North Carolina for 10 weeks or more, beginning 1 July (Records of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, 1969). While in Virginia "sundry goods" of McMordie were stolen from the courtyard of Wm. Murray by Patrick Hair (Chalkley, 1965).
The following year at the Synod meeting of 22 May 1754, it was noted that Mr. Robert McMordie had been ordained in the bounds of Donegal Presbytery. Six months later Robert married Janet (at times spelled Jennett) Boyd on 12 Dec 1754, in Octorara, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The following were issues of their marriage:
In the following year he became associated with the Hanover Presbytery of Virginia and supplied churches at Tuscarora and Falling Waters, Virginia for four years (Woodworth, 1947). Then, in 1768, he withdrew from the Hanover Presbytery and returned to Pennsylvania where he was allowed to join the Second Philadelphia Presbytery. This presbytery sent him south again in 1769 and to Virginia and Carolina in 1772.
At the time the Revolutionary War began Robert McMordie was without pastoral care and was residing near Gettysburg (The Centennial Memorial of the Presbytery of Carlisle, 1889). On 17 May 777, he became Chaplain of the 11th Pennsylvania Continental Line (Heitman, 1982). He served with distinction, and upon the recommendation of Gen. St. Clair, he was promoted to Chaplain of the First Pennsylvania Brigade on l5 July 1780, serving until June 1782. For his service he became a member of the Order of Cincinnati, which was created by George Washington as an association of officers of the Continental Army and Navy (Webster, 1857). An additional awarded for his service was 400 acres of land in Jefferson County, for which the purchase warrants were. Retired on 25 May 1785 and 16 May 1794 (Pennsylvania Archives, 3rd Series). His service in the Continental Army is well documented (Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series).
Rev. McMordie resided on 200 acres of land in Cumberland Township, York County, Pennsylvania, as shown by the tax records of 1779 through 1782. During these years he paid taxes of £15, £45, £7 and £14. His live stock was also listed on the tax rolls. He owned a maximum of 12 cows and 6 horses during these years. In 1783 he was listed as having 7 inhabitants in his household (Pennsylvania Archives, 3rd Series). The 1790 Federal Census of York County, Pennsylvania, recorded Rev. Robt. McMordick (sic) head of the house with 3 males older than 16 years of age, 3 females, and slave.
Rev. Robert McMordie died on 22 May 1796 (Webster, 1857) and was buried in Black Cemetery, Upper Marsh Creek Presbyterian Churchyard (Historical Society of York County, Pennsylvania). His obituary in the Pennsylvania Herald & York General Advertizer, June 8, 1796, stated "Died a few days ago, the Rev Robert M'Murdie, aged above 70 years. He enjoyed an uncommon state of good health during his whole life, even a few moments before his death he was reading in his chair, from which he fell, & expired without a groan. He was a Chaplain during the greater part of the War & marched at the head of the Regiment with his sword always ready for action. He was a loving husband & affectionate parent, a sincere friend & an outgoing neighbor." (Abstract of South Central Pennsylvania Newspapers). Janet McMordie died in 1808, and her will was probated 27 Jan 1809 (Greenholt, 1988).
Since Robert McMordie was over 70 at the time of death, he was born before 1726. As shown in Volume 1 of The Centennial Memorial of the Presbytery of Carlisle, the "Formula ..." prefacing the first written records of the Presbytery of Donegal is signed by Robt. McMordie, his father-in-law, Adam Boyd, and Adam's father-in-law, Thomas Creaghead, who died in 1739 (Webster, 1857). If all signatures were on the same date then Rev. Robert McMordie was born before 1718, and probability in Ireland. A copy of the preface is shown in Figure 2.
Janet Boyd was the second daughter and third child of Rev. Adam Boyd and Jane Creaghead Boyd Adam was born in Ballymoney, County Antrim, Ireland in 1692 and came to America in 1722 or 1723. On 23 Oct 1725, he married Jane Creaghead, daughter of Rev. Thomas and Margaret Creaghead, at White Clay, New Castle, Delaware. He became pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Octorara, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where he remained for 44 years. He died 23 Nov 1768. Jane Boyd died 8 Nov 1779 (Bolton, 1910; Webster, 1857).
Thomas Creaghead was the son of Rev. Robert Creaghead (died 22 Aug 1711, Londonderry, Ireland) and Agnes Hart Creaghead. He was born in Donoughmore, County Donegal, Ireland in ca. 1665 and married Margaret in 1701. In 1714 the Creagheads sailed to New England on the ship, Thomas and Jane, and became pastor of a church in Freetown, Massachusetts. His parishioners did not support him financially so in 1724 he was ordained by the New Castle Presbytery and became pastor of the White Clay Creek Presbyterian Church, New Castle County, Delaware. In 1733 he moved to the Pequea Church of the Donegal Presbytery and became the first Presbyterian Minister west of the Susquehanna River. He accepted churches at Hopewell and Newell in 1738. On 26 Apr 1739 he dropped dead in the pulpit after giving the benediction (Bolton, 1910; Webster, 1857).
LAST WILL & TESTAMENT of JENNET McMORDIE In the Name of God, Amen. I Jennet McMordie of the Township of Franklin County of Adams State of Pennsylvania being weak in Body but of sound disposing mind, memory & understanding do make and publish this my last will & Testament in manner and form following. Viz.
Principally & first I recommend my Soul unto God who gave it and my Body to be buried in a decent manner at the descretion of my Executors. All my Just Debts if any there be, to be immediately paid & my funeral expenses.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Francis the sum of sixty pounds and the one half of the price of a Waggon now in the Possession of my son Robert
I also give to my two grand Children Robert and Jennet McMordie, the two oldest Children of my son Francis, the use of all the money which I have in the Treasury of the United States, for two years.
I also give & bequeath unto my two sons Adam & John the sum of five pounds each. I also give to my son Robert one young horse also the half of the price of the waggon before mentioned. And further I give and bequeath to my Grandson Robert Armstrong the sum of fifteen pounds. My will further is that all my stock of Horned Cattle and sheep of which I may die possessed shall be equally divided between my three Grandsons viz. Francis Armstrong, Robert Armstrong & Robert McMordie son of Robert McMordie. I also give & bequeath unto my daughter Agnes intermarried with the Rev. William Spear My Negro Woman, my Riding mare my bed & bedding also all my silver spoons.
And my will further is that after the payment of the before mentioned figures the residue of all my Estate in money shall be equally divided between my two daughters Jean Boyd Armstrong and Agnes Spear. & it is also my desire that my Household furniture be divided between by son Robert and my two Daughters as they themselves may think proper.
And I do hereby Nominate and appoint my two sons viz. John & Robert to be the executors
of this my will, hereby revoking all other wills heretofore by me made and declaring
this and none other to be my last will & Testament. In Witness whereof I have forwith
set my hand and affixed my seal the thirtieth Day of September in the Year of our Lord
One thousand Eight hundred & six. Signed sealed published and declared by the said
Testatrix as her last will & Testament in the presence of us who in her presence & at
her Request have subscribed our as witnesses.
/s/ Janet McMordie
SEAL
Will Book B, p. 45. Adams County, Pennsylvania. #342
Abstract of South Central Pennsylvania Newspapers, 1796 - 1800., Family Line Publ., Westminster MD, p. 75.
Bolton, C. K., Scotch-Irish Pioneers in Ulster and America, Bacon & Brown, Boston, 1910, pp. 20, 81.
Centennial Memorial of the Presbytery of Carlisle., Meyers Print. & Publ., Harrisburg,PA, 1889, Vol. 1, pp. 211-213.
Centennial Memorial of the Presbytery of Carlisle. Meyers Print. & Publ, Harrisburg, PA, 1889, Vol. 11, pp. 38-39, 60-61, 69, 87, 94-95.
Chalkley, L., Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia. Genea. Publ. Co., Baltimore, 1965, Vol.1, p. 63.
Daughter of the American Revolution Lineage Book 96, DAR, Washington, D. C., pp.260-261.
Egle, W. H., Notes and Queries AV1900. Genea. Publ. Co., Baltimore, 1970, p. 126.
Greenholt, K. L., Abstracts of Adams County, Pennsylvania, Wills, 1800 - 1826. Family Line Publ., Westminster MD, 1988, p. 29. [Will Book B, p. 45].
Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790, Pennsylvania, Genea. Publ. Co., Baltimore, 1966, p.286.
Heitman, F. B., Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army, Genea. Publ. Co., Baltimore, 1982, p. 374.
Historical Society of York County, Pennsylvania. York PA, p. 246. Pennsylvania Archives, 3rd Series, Vol. 21, p. 163, 320, 393, 629, 740.
Pennsylvania Archives, 3rd Series, Vol. 12, p. 464.
Pennsylvania Archives, 3rd Series, Vol. 26, p. 779.
Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, Vol. II, pp. 494, 574,632.
Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, Vol. III, pp. 591, 601, 603, 610.
Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, Vol. IV, p. 205.
Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine. Genealogical Soc. of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 1962, Vol. 22 #4, p. 265. (Philadelphia County Adminstration Book "C" 1733, p. 248).
Records of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, 1706 - 1788. ARNO Press & The New York Times, New York, 1969, pp. 210-211.
Stover, R., Abstracts from the Republican Compiler, Adams County, PA. VOL 11, 1831-1851. Gateway Press, Baltimore, 1976, pp 112, 286.
Webster, R., History of the Presbyterian Church in Arnerica. Joseph M - Wilson, Philadelphia, 1857, pp. 381, 382, 384, 602.
Woodworth, R. B., History of the Presbytery of Winchester (Synod of Virginia), McClure Print. Co., Staunton VA, 1947, p. 46.